I have thought about becoming a Doula for a long time. I really have not felt motivated. I have worked as a postpartum doula and i have enjoyed this because, one can control their schedule more with a family. A doula requires time and committment that one would need from their husbands and families that i have not possessed.  I have also worked in a hospital in Childbirth Unit and have gained a tremendous amount of knowledge and expereince from working in OR to taking care of infants, and moms in all small capacities. I love to teach about  birth so, it seems if i wanted to start slow childbirth would be more fitting. I already know so much and love talking. Certification is what I would need. I have since began wondering about becoming a midwife assistant. This seems like a good path to becoming a midwife. What i have read is moneywise, a doula would make more money. One thing  i always look for in a program is curriculum and cost.

Here is a Midwifery Assistant Program i found:
http://iomc.intuitwebsites.com/Institute-of-Midwifery-Careers.html
The cost is $99 and it seems like it would be a great learning program.

SAMPLE MODULE
Case Study 1:  Lucy's Labor
The Scenario:
You are called by the midwife at 4 a.m. and asked to check in on Lucy, a primigravida who thinks her labor is starting.  When you arrive at Lucy's home, you observe that she is moaning loudly and swaying with the contractions.  You time the contractions and find them to be about 10 minutes apart, and lasting 20-30 seconds long.  You notice that Lucy seems cheerful and talkative between contractions, and even during contractions, if someone asks her a question, she stops moaning and will answer them in a normal tone of voice.
You listen to the baby's heart tones, and obtain readings of 145 before and after a contraction, and 158 during a contraction. Lucy's blood pressure is 118/71, her pulse is 68, and her temperature is 98.5.
Lucy says she has not had any spotting  and denies spontaneous rupture of membranes (SROM).  She says the contractions began at about 1 a.m., and she called her support team, which consists of her mother, mother-in-law, sister, best friend, and a neighbor who wants to see a birth.  All five women are hovering over Lucy and asking her if she's in pain.  Lucy's mother keeps saying, "I think we should go to the hospital.  She's already in so much pain and the contractions are just going to get closer and stronger!"
References for this assignment:
Spiritual Midwifery (Gaskin)
Heart and Hands (Davis)
Terms to Define:
•Spontaneous rupture of membranes (SROM)
•Primigravida, primipara
•Multigravida, multipara
•Spotting
•Uterine contraction (UC)
•Vital signs
Case Study Objectives:
1. Explain the difference between true and false labor
2. Understand the "emotional signposts" of labor
3. Identify the stages of labor, and signs of each stage
4.Understand how to properly time and document contraction frequency and duration
5.Understand the factors involved in care for the woman with SROM
6.Understand the importance of creating a "safe space" for a laboring woman
7.Identify several supportive measures the birth assistant can take to help a woman in early labor
8.Identify the normal range of the fetal heart rate
9.Identify on a drawing the usual locations for obtaining a fetal heart rate
10.Identify proper technique for obtaining blood pressure and pulse
When you have completed the objectives above, you may proceed to the Learning Activities (visible to enrolled students only).




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